Camping in Zurich

Camping in Zurich is the perfect opportunity to combine a city break with great nature experiences. The impressive cultural offerings of the Swiss metropolis and the diverse nature of the beautiful Limmat Valley appeal to culture vultures and nature lovers alike. Campers with children will find a wealth of exciting excursion destinations, while Lake Zurich and the surrounding mountain ranges guarantee extensive hikes and exciting hours in the fresh air.

Special features of camping in Zurich

Camping in Zurich combines two opposites: city breaks and nature holidays. Thanks to their geographical proximity to the Swiss metropolis, the campsites are ideal for a sightseeing trip of the metropolis. At the same time, most holiday resorts are nestled in the green surroundings of the canton, offering great views of Lake Zurich or the River Limmat. You can confidently leave your motorhome at the campsite: Thanks to an excellent public transport system, you can be in the old town, which stretches along the lakeshore, in just a few minutes. Most of the campsites around Zurich are located by a lake. For example, there are a number of recommended sites at the northern end of Lake Zurich or on the smaller Greifensee to the east. Thanks to their location by the water, the campsites are also ideal for bathing holidaymakers and sun worshippers, especially in summer. There is also a wide range of water sports activities such as surfing, stand-up paddling and wakeboarding, and some campsites in Zurich now also offer glamping. If you want to combine the experience of nature with luxury and comfort, you can spend your camping holiday in a cosy safari tent or other luxurious accommodation. Dogs are allowed on many campsites in Zurich. Dogs are also generally allowed to swim and refresh themselves in the cool water on the public sunbathing lawns on Lake Zurich.

Popular campsites in Zurich

Many campsites in Zurich offer campers not only pitches for motorhomes, caravans or tents, but also rental accommodation and mobile homes. The sanitary facilities are generally of a high standard. There is usually a restaurant and a supermarket on site for everyday necessities. In the high season, the campsites often also offer children's entertainment and other leisure activities for young and old.

Camping Fischers Fritz

Just 10 minutes from Zurich city centre, Camping Fischers Fritz combines proximity to the metropolis with the beautiful natural landscape on the shores of Lake Zurich. The campsite is open all year round in a park-like setting and is particularly popular thanks to its beautiful beach and wide range of water sports. The restaurant (Beiz) with delicious fish from Lake Zurich is also highly recommended.

Camping Reussbrücke

The Reussbrücke campsite in the Zurich catchment area offers visitors fantastic views of the surrounding mountain landscape. Camping enthusiasts love this idyll with its beautiful pitches for caravans, motorhomes and tents, but also thanks to its excellent location directly on the banks of the Reuss. The campsite is an ideal starting point for hiking and cycling tours in the canton of Zurich.

Rausenbach Campsite

Located directly on the shores of the beautiful Greifensee and in the middle of a nature reserve, Rausenbach campsite is one of the oldest campsites in Switzerland. The owners are enthusiastic campers themselves and you can tell: The atmosphere, facilities and, of course, the location. Everything is just right here. Zurich is just over half an hour away.

Sihlwald campsite

Small, family-run campsite close to nature in the middle of Zurich's wilderness park and right on the banks of the River Sihl. The Sihlwald nature discovery park is just a few steps away - the unspoilt beech forest with its mighty old trees and wild streams is great for a walk with the whole family. There is a large wilderness playground for children at the visitor centre and a lovely restaurant with an outdoor terrace.

Favourite places in the region

Although Zurich is not the capital of Switzerland, there is plenty to see in the economically and culturally most important metropolis of this small Alpine country. But the region in the canton of Zurich also offers many exciting excursion destinations. The museum city of Winterthur is a real treasure trove for culture fans. Rapperswil on the Riviera at the upper end of Lake Zurich offers an almost Mediterranean holiday atmosphere. And Baden, with its 18 hot sulphur springs, is one of the best destinations for wellness holidays in Switzerland.

Winterthur

With 17 museums, Winterthur is an important museum city with a rich selection of cultural and entertainment offerings. The charming old town with its time-honoured mansions, small shops and cosy restaurants also invites you to take an extended stroll through the city. Winterthur also has the largest continuous pedestrian zone in Europe. Nature lovers can then relax in one of the many gardens and parks.

Rapperswil on Lake Zurich

Rapperswil on the upper end of Lake Zurich is a great day trip destination for the whole family. The magnificent castle is the town's landmark and, thanks to its location on a hill, offers wonderful views as far as the Zurich Oberland. Families with children can spend eventful hours at Knies children's zoo or on the 700 metre long summer toboggan run. On the other side of the lake, the Alpamare fun and adventure pool in Pfäffikon is well worth a visit.

Bathing

The name says it all: even the Romans came here to relax in the hot thermal waters. Today, the small town on the Limmat with its 18 sulphur springs is the perfect wellness oasis in the Zurich area. In addition to baths, the wellness offer naturally includes much more: yoga, saunas, beauty treatments - you can really let yourself go in Baden. Numerous festivals are also held here in summer.

Getting there

Although Zurich is not the capital of Switzerland, the economically and culturally most important metropolis of this small neighbouring country has excellent connections to the European road network. The journey takes different amounts of time, depending on where it starts. For example, travellers from Hamburg have to cover around 850 km, while campers from Munich cover a distance of just under 300 km to the campsites in Zurich.

The main route from central and western Germany leads via Mannheim and Freiburg on the A5 motorway directly to the Swiss border near Basel. From here, the Swiss A3 motorway takes travellers directly to Zurich. An alternative route via Nuremberg and Munich starts with the A7 motorway in Hamburg or the A9 in Berlin and then leads directly to the destination via the A96. A route via the A81 to Schaffhausen and the Swiss A4 motorway to Zurich is also possible. There are numerous rest stops along the way, whereby - coming from the east - a longer break at Lake Constance is definitely worthwhile due to the marvellous view.

Sights and excursion destinations

The following sights should not be missed on a city trip to Zurich: - Zurich's Old Town: A walk through Zurich's Old Town is an exciting journey from the Renaissance to modern times. To get a perfect overview of the city, it's worth climbing the tower of the Romanesque cathedral for a bird's eye view of the metropolis. - Zurich Zoo: The zoo on the Zürichberg offers visitors an impressive insight into the flora and fauna of the Madagascan jungle with its Masoala rainforest hall. - Uetliberg: Hikers take the Denzlerweg, which winds its way up the flanks of the Uetliberg. Just 905 steps later, you have reached the summit of Zurich's local mountain and are rewarded with a magnificent view for the challenging climb. - Rämistraße: Rämistraße in Zurich is known for its impressive density of galleries, making it one of the international hubs for contemporary art. Here you can not only track down the latest trends, but also take a short break in the small cafés to soak up the many impressions - Strandbad Küsnacht In the centre of the elegant Zurich suburb of Küsnacht is the city's most beautiful outdoor pool on the shores of Lake Zurich. The 30 metre-long pool and extensive sunbathing lawn offer plenty of space for sunbathing and lazing around.

Insider tip

Here's a tip from our colleague Selim (Content): Nature lovers will find numerous beautiful hiking trails in the Zurich Oberland just outside the city limits. However, the Bernese Oberland, which is only 2 hours away from Zurich by car, offers spectacular scenery and is much more popular. In the idyllic Lauterbrunnen Valley, you can admire famous peaks such as the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau at close quarters. The area around Lakes Thun and Brienz also offers countless great hiking trails for all abilities, including the parade tour over the Brienzergrat, which is one of the most beautiful (and challenging) tours in the Bernese Pre-Alps.

Activities and excursions

From culture to nature - the variety of activities in and around the Swiss city make camping in Zurich a varied experience.

Gallery visit in the Rämistraße

Rämistraße in Zurich is known for its impressive density of galleries, making it one of the international hubs for contemporary art. Here you can not only track down the latest trends in art, but also take a short break in the small cafés to process the many impressions.

Küsnacht lido

In the centre of the elegant Zurich suburb of Küsnacht is the city's most beautiful outdoor pool. It was planned back in the 1930s by local architects Karl Egneder and Adolf Steger and built in a harmonious L-shape directly on the shores of Lake Zurich. A 30-metre-long sandy beach and a wooden jetty offer plenty of space for sunbathing and lazing around in addition to the spacious sunbathing lawn. Families can relax in the midst of green nature or spend the hours actively playing volleyball or football.

Bruno Weber Park

The life's work of Swiss artist Bruni Weber awaits visitors on a 15,000 m² site. His work is dedicated to concrete sculptures, with individual objects ranging from fantasy creatures to realistic depictions. These large-scale figures are embedded in a natural environment that makes the bizarre shapes appear even more vivid.

Gastronomy

Swiss cuisine is characterised by hearty dishes made from regional ingredients. A true classic of the Zurich region is the Züricher Geschnetzelte with crispy rösti. This internationally renowned dish serves veal in a creamy white wine and cream sauce. Zurich-style tripe is also served in a light-coloured sauce made from wine, mushrooms and onions.

The sweet Luxemburgerli, which is a macaron-like praline, can also be found in many of the city's patisseries. A popular alternative is the honey biscuit Tirggel, which is mainly baked at Christmas time. Few people know that the popular Bircher muesli made from oat flakes and dried fruit originated in the Swiss metropolis.

Tour tip

Zurich is also a good starting point for a longer tour through Switzerland in a motorhome. One of the most popular areas is certainly Ticino in the very south of the country. The "sunshine region of Switzerland" offers summery temperatures even in spring and combines magnificent mountain landscapes with a Mediterranean holiday feeling. No wonder: Italy is not far away and with Lake Maggiore and Lake Lugano, two of the most beautiful lakes in the region are just around the corner. Ticino is particularly popular with active holidaymakers who set off to explore the canton in spring. Here you can find more information for a camping trip in Ticino.